New Acquisition Highlight: Crocheted Flower, circa 1950, made by Janie Brady Jones, widow of folk hero railroad engineer Casey Jones
In the early morning hours of April 30, 1900, an Illinois Central passenger train dubbed the Cannonball Express departed Memphis, Tennessee, enroute to New Orleans. John Luther “Casey” Jones, the train’s engineer, worked alongside fireman Simeon “Sim” T. Webb on the run. The Illinois Central train was barreling along at a reported 75 miles per hour when it approached Vaughn, Mississippi. As the train rounded a corner, Jones and Webb saw, in horror, that the caboose and rear cars of a freight train sat on the main line ahead. Jones would be unable to stop his train in time. Jones’ last words were, “Jump, Sim, jump!” as he encouraged the fireman to leap from the speeding train. Legend is that Jones died with one hand on the brake and the other on the whistle, attempting to warn passengers and the engineer of the freight train ahead of the oncoming danger.
Jones’ body was found under the wreckage of the train, where he had remained in the engine in an attempt to stop the crash. The first song to memorialize his death was written soon after, by Wallace Saunders, a Black railroad laborer and friend of Casey’s based in Canton, Mississippi, who wrote the lyrics to “The Ballad of Casey Jones.” The song became a folk standard, and transformed Jones into a folk hero.
Many dozens of versions Saunders’ song were recorded, by artists ranging from Bing Crosby to Pete Seeger, Johnny Cash, and Mississippi John Hurt – though neither Saunders nor Jones’ family received any royalties from the recordings. Jones was also an inspiration for the Grateful Dead, whose Casey Jones was written in 1970 and became one of the band’s most well-known songs.
Jones’ widow, Janie Brady Jones, lived for nearly sixty years following her husband’s death, during which she strove to keep Casey’s memory alive – including crocheting the flower pictured above, which was distributed along with a card that included a photo of herself on one side, and text on the other:
“This crochet was made by Mrs. Janie Brady Jones, widow of John Luther (Casey) Jones, the famous and brave engineer, who was killed in a wreck at Vaughn, Mississippi at 3:52 A.M. Monday, April 30, 1900, while pulling the Illinois Central’s passenger train No. 1, The Cannonball Express. His last words spoken were to his negro fireman, Sim Webb, when he said, “Jump, Sim, Jump” as he rode his locomotive 382 into the rear end of a freight train standing on the main line.
Casey was born in southeast Missouri on March 14th, 1863. We were married November 25th, 1886 and became the parents of two sons and one daughter.
I appreciate your interest and trust that you will like your needlework.”
The card is signed “Mrs. Casey Jones.”
Janie Brady Jones was pictured in Time Magazine’s Dec. 1, 1958 issue, along with her needlework.
This recent acquisition was purchased with funds from the Gary Gelzer (’70) and Charlotte Kafitz Transportation Library Fund. It can be viewed by appointment in the Transportation Library.